Catamenial pad



Oct. l2, 1943. H. l.. sTRoNGsoN 2,331,355

GATAMENIAL PAD Filed Sept. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENTOR HermfzLE/o son,

061:. l2, 1943. H L, STRONGSON 2,331,355

CATAMEN IAL PAD Filed'sept. 18, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Herm .Sfa S012 Oct. l2, 1943. H. L. sTRoNGsoN CATAMENIAL PAD iled Sept. 18, 1941 INVENTOR Herman/.

BY y

Oct. 12, 1943. H. l.. sTRoNGsoN CATAMENIAL PAD Filed Sept. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvENToR Herman S21/'0495016 ATTO Patented Oct. 12, 1943 I s .PATENT fo The present inventionrelates 'to a catamenial pad, and it particularly relates to a catamenial pad of improved construction andof greater-useiulness.

It is among the objects -oi-v the present invention to provide a catamenial pad construction which will be, more effective in its action, which can be more readily applied to the body `and which may be manufactured without substanially increased expense.

Still further objects and advantages will ap- -pear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to form the pad with a central gathered, bulged, tucked or extra thick- 2 0 ness portion extending a substantial or major portion of the length thereof and desirably, but

not necessarily, along the axis of the pad.

In the preferred construction, this extra thickness extending along the longitudinal axis of the pad is accompanied by a reduction in the width of the pad at the central portion thereof.

This reduced width may be attained by initially forming the absorbent portion of the pad oi' such reduced Width, but preferably is accomplished by gathering or pulling in the central` portion of the pad to produce the extra central longitudinal thickness. Although the extra thickness may be fixed in many ways, it has been found quite satisfactory according to one embodiment of the invention to stitch horizontally through or vertically around the base of the gathered or thicker portion of the pad. The upwardly gathered portion of the pad may have various contours to fit the shape and contours of the body portion to which it is applied.

It is also possible by use of adhesive tapes or papers or glue, and/or by waterproofing sheets or applications applied to the bottom or sides or gathered portions of the pad to hold the pad in bulged, gathered or centrally folded position without stitching or in addition to the stitching which may extend through the central fold.

Less preferably, the pad may be slit centrally and longitudinally, or in some instances transversely toward the ends of the pad, and the portions at or between the slits may be turned upthe extra thickness lby applying-extra layers oi.'

the absorbent material for predetermined lengths or widths along the vcentral portion ofthe pad. or to cause the entire upper face of thev pad to slope 4upwardly Vand inwardly toward a central longitudinal peak or ridge, which extra material may be part of the base or adhesively connected or stitched in position. If desired, a certain4 portion of the pad may be drawn upwardly to form a tampon. The upwardly gathered portions may also be filled with materials having absorbent qualities. y

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention, but to which the Present invention is by no means restrict-ed, since the drawings are merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a catamenial pad. showing one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal axial sectional view upon the line 3-3 oi' Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of the Figs. l to 3;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are respectively transverse sectional views upon the lines 5-5, 6 6 and 1 1 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment in which the pad is held in gathered position by a waterproof or adhesive sheet of-paper or fabric applied by stitching or adhesive to the lower face thereof, Fig. 8 being a plan view, and Fig. 9 being a transverse sectional view upon the line 9-9 of wardly at to the plane of the absorbent ma- 55 Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view showing another embodiment in which the pad is held in centrally gathered position with the gathered portion being held together by an adhesive, a transverse sectional view;

Figs. 11 and 12 show still another embodiment where the pad is held in gathered or centrally bulged position by strips of adhesive applied to the bottom face thereof, Fig. 1l being a bottom plan view; and Fig. l2 being a transverse sectional view upon the line |2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Figs. 13 to 15 show still another embodiment where the absorbent material is longitudinally split and the edges are turned up and attached together by adhesive or by stitching, Fig. 13 being a plan view of the cut absorbent pad; Fig. 14 showing said cut absorbent pad with the central rrlcr j of material has been secured to the pad along the central longitudinal axis by adhesive or stitching;

Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 2O show still another embodiment, Fig. 17 being a top plan view, Fig. 18

being a side longitudinal section on the line |8-I8 of Fig. 17, Fig. 19 being a transverse section on the line IS-IQ of Fig. 17 and Fig. 20 being a top plan view of the porous base;

Figs. 21 and 22 still shown another embodiment, Fig. 21 being a fragmentary top plan view and Fig. 22 being a transverse sectional view upon the line 22-22 of Fig. 21 upon enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a top perspective view of another embodiment with a tampon construction combined with a pad;

Figs. 24 to 26 show another form, Fig. 24 being a top view, Figs. 25 and 26 being transverse sectional views upon the lines 25-25 and 25-#26 of Fig. 24 and Figs. 24a and 24h being respectively top and side sectional views illustrating the form of the multi-ply absorbent material before it is centrally gathered upwardly in the form shown in Figs. 24, 25 and 26;

Fig. 27 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 26 o! a slightly modified construction with the recess at the bottom of the pad being filled in with absorbent material;

Fig. 28 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification inwhich the bottom and side edges of the pad may be water-proofed or coated by water-proofing material.

Referring particularly to the construction of Figs. 1 to 7, the absorbent base material of porous cellulosic material A is enclosed by the gauze B and has a central unbulged or gathered portion C with narrowed or concave side edges D.

In the preferred construction the gauze B, as shown best in Fig. 5, is folded, bulged over on itself to form three plies I0, Il and I2, with folds at I3 and i4.

The pad of absorbent material A enclosed between the plies I and Il and with the ends AI6 of the gauze B extending substantially beyond the ends l oi the pad A.

It will be noted that the pad A has semi-circular end portions I1 and it may consist of absorbent cellulosic materials as, for example, derived from wood fibers or puried cotton in fiuifed up condition.

In the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, by gathering up the cen-v tral longitudinal portion of the pad and gauze. as indicated at C, between the points I9, and then stitching through the base as indicated at 20, a portion of extra thickness is formed.

When this portion of extra thickness is formed by the upward bulge C and held in position by the stitching 20, this will draw in or pull inwardly the sides D, with the result that the side edges of the pad will be concave and better form fitting, and there will be increased absorptive capacity at the central upbulged or upwardly gathered portion C.

A pad of this character will be superior both in its form fitting qualities, as well as in its absorptive capacity inasmuch as the maximum absorptive thickness will be at the point where it is most needed.

Moreover, it will be noted that it is possible t0 form a pad in this way without substantially extra material, since the extra material will be gathered upwardly from the central portion of the pad, with advantageous narrowing of the sides of the pad, giving both increased thickness at the central portion of the pad with the enhanced form fitting qualities at the side edges of thev central portion of the pad.

In respect to the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9. instead of the stitching 20 of Fig. 3, a sheet 2l of a fabric or paper, which may be waterprooied if desired, is desirably adhesively connected to the bottom of the pad, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, with the sheet 2| taking the form or the shape of the bottom of the pad in gathered condition, but being of slightly less width so that there will be a margin as indicated at 22, all around the bottom of the pad.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10, instead of using the 4stitching 20 of Fig. 7 or the adhesively attached sheet 2| of Figs. 8 and 9, a ilexible adhesive, such as rubber cement or some other suit'- able material, is employed at 23 to attach together the inside contacting faces 24 of the ply of the gauze B.

In the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12, instead of the stitching 20 of Figs. l to 7, or the sheet 2i of Figs. 8 and 9, or the adhesive 23 of Fig. l0, two crossed strips of adhesive tape 24 and 25 are utilized to hold the gathered portion upwardly.

In the embodiment of Figs. 13 to 15, the absorbent material A is split, as indicated at 2B, with the outwardly extending end splits 21 which enables the two side portions 28 to be Vturned upwardly as indicated at 29 in Fig. 15 and there sewn together or adhesively connected together, or otherwise maintained in upturned position, as indicated in any ofthe embodiments of Figs. 1 to 12.

It will be noted that in this construction, it is not necessary to have the gauze B extend upwardlybetween the contacting faces 29 of the portions 28 and that enhanced absorptive capacity is permitted by the embodiment of Fig. 15 since the cut edges of the pad material, as shown in Fig. 13, will be turned upwardly. I

In the construction as shown in Fig. 16, an extra thickness 30 of material, which may be iiat or rounded or of the same equal or lesser thickness than the main body of the pad, may be attached at 30 to the top of the pad material at A by adhesive connection, stitching and/or another means, and the entire structure then may be enclosed in the gauze B.

In the embodiment of Figs. l'I to 20, the absorbent pad A is provided with the transverse slits 40 leaving a central portion 4I which may be gathered up as shown at C in Figs. 17 and 18 and held in place by the stitching 42, which extends entirely around the ridge C. If desired, instead of the stitching, an adhesive might be used at the fold 43 in Fig. 19. The stitching 42 extending around the base of the ridge C may also be used in the embodiments of Figs. l to 7 and 13 to l5 in lieu of or in addition to adhesive connections or transverse stitching as shown at 20 in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the embodiment of Figs. 2l and 22, the absorbent material increases in thickness from the side edges 44 to a central peak 45 and as shown in Fig. 21 the side portions 46 are straight instead of concave.

The use of straight edges instead of concave edges may also be utilized in connection with the embodiments l to 20.

In the embodiment in Fig. 23, the absorbent material 6I may be enclosed by the gauze 60 and provided with a central elongated ridge 62. The ridge may be held in place at 64 by transverse stitching as shown at 20 in Figs. 3 and 4, or by vertical stitching as shown at 42 in Fig. 17, or by adhesive connections. From the central portion of the ridge projects upwardly the element 63 which consists of the same absorbent material as the pad, and which may be desirably consolidated or suiciently stiffened as to enable its more effective utilization.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 24 to 26, it will be noted that initially as shown in Figs. 24a and 24h, a smaller pad 'l2 of increased thickness is placed upon the longer pad'l l Both pads may be of the same thickness, if desired, and also, if desired, the pad 'l2 may be given greater absorbent qualities than the pad 1I.

These two pads are then wrapped in gauze 'I0 and then gathered upwardly as indicated at 16 and held in position by stitching adhesive or other connections which may be applied at 15, if desired, as indicated in connection with the structures of Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 17 and 18.

However, in the embodiment shown, an adhesive layer 90 may be attached to the bottom of the pad to cause it to retain its elevated position at 16, this adhesive holding the gathered portion 16 upwardly as shown best in Figs. 25 and 26.

In Fig. 27 a single piece of material 19 is employed and gathered upwardly and enclosed by the gauze 8U and in the recess formed below the upwardly gathered portion is inserted the extra absorbent material 18.

Where the central portion of the pad is gathered upwardly forming a recess 'I4 the gauze may be caused to follow the contour of the recess which may be held in position by vertical stitching as shown at 42 in Fig. 17. 'Ihen the user of the pad may optionally insert extra absorbent material in the recess 'I4 if extra absorbent capacity is required.

It will be noted, both in Figs. 26 and 27 that the contour of the raised portion has been modied from that shown in Figs. 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 22 so as to more closely conform to the shape of the body member to which the pad is applied.

In the embodiment of Fig. 28, the lower ply 82 below the shortened ply 8| is coated along its bottom and sides by the water repellent coating or sheet 83 and 84.

If desired, the pad or lower layer 82 in the process of manufacture may be turned face down on a board and then a waterproofing material may be sprayed onto the side edges and bottom of the material 82 to give the waterproofing effect.

It is thus apparent that the present invention has provided a basic construction most useful in catamenial pad constructions, according to which extra thickness will be provided at the central longitudinal portion of the pad where it is most needed, together with a narrowing of the sides of the pad which. in the preferred embodiments supplies the extra material at the center of the pad. The pad not only is more effective for the amount of material utilized, but also is better form tting and is a much more desirable pad for the purpose indicated.

It is to be understood that many alternative and varying constructions may be made pursuant to the broad aspects of the present invention, as above pointed out, and it is intended to cover and include all such alternatives and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An absorbent pad for feminine hygiene hav- I ing a central portion thereof gathered upwardly and horizontal stitching through the base of said gathered portion holding it in position.

2. An absorbent pad for feminine hygiene having a central portion thereof gathered upwardly and vertical stitching around the base of said gathered portion holding it in position.

3. An absorbent pad for feminine hygiene having a central portion thereof gathered upwardly and adhesive holding said gathered portionin position.

4. An absorbent pad for feminine hygiene having a central portion thereof gathered upwardly and stitching through the base of said gathered portion holding it in position.

5. An absorbent pad for feminine hygiene having a central portion thereof gathered upwardly and means at'the base of said gathered portion holding it in position throughout use.

6. An absorbent pad for feminine hygiene having a central portion thereof gathered upwardly and stitching through the base of said gathered portion holding it in position, and the central portion of said pad being narrowed at the gathered position.

HERMAN L. STRONGSON. 

